1847-Present. Made nautical hardware. The company is still in operation but not in Middletown, CT but in Middletown, RI . They made a few tools among them were caulking irons and yacht scrapers. Some of the buildings used by this company are or are in the process of being converted into condominiums. They had a picture of a sailing ship on one of their buildings at one time. Unfortunately, I did not get a picture of it. Is is on cover of their older catalogs. The buildings are located in the South Farms district on South Main Street.

There are a number of patents by W.W. Wilcox, Penfield and Brown were assigned to this company,

Caulking iron with logo. 

Logo on the iron "WILCOX-CRITTENDEN & CO.

                                 MIDDLETOWN, CONN."

Below is one of their magnetic compasses. Their logo, WC, was used to designate north.

A 1930 catalog on the left and 1936 catalog on the right.

Patents issued or assigned to this company or one of its owners. See Ref. 24 for more 

Middletown patents.

Name				Pat. No	Item				Issue Date

Penfield, Eldridge H.	5779		Metal grommet		9/19/1848
Penfield, E.			10639		Sail grommet			3/14/1854
Wilcox, William W.		27016		Sail grommet			1/31/1860
Wilcox, W. W.		38192		Clew thimble			4/14/1863
Carroll, Thomas		42817		Clew thimble			5/17/1864
Assigned to Wilcox & Hall
Brown, William.		66296		Sail grommet			7/2/1867
Assigned to Wilcox & Hall
Wilcox, W. W.		68271		Strawberry trellis		8/27/1867
Wilcox, W. W.		70488		Eyelet fastening		11/5/1867
Wilcox, W. W.		162445		Bullseye			4/20/1875
Wilcox, W. W.		166441		Toy hoop or trundle		8/3/1875
Wilcox, W. W.		304249		Sail grommet			8/26/1884
Wilcox, W. W.		382921		Sail grommet			5/15/1888
Wilcox, W. W.		382922		Sail grommet			5/15/1888
Wilcox, W. W.		382923		Sail grommet			5/15/1888
Wilcox, W. W.		382924		Sail grommet punch & die	5/15/1888
Sage, Charles L..		390907		Casting hooks into eyes	10/9/1888
Assigned to Wilcox-Crittenden & Co

4-fold, 1 foot caliper advertisement rule. Made for Wilcox-Crittenden, possible by Stanley 

Rule and Level.

Marked "WILCOX CRITTENDEN & CO. INC.

MIDDLETOWN CONN."

References:   3, 10, 24    Back Home

If you have information to add or comments please email them to me.

© 2003-7 Richard D. Dickerson. All Rights Reserved.